Collapsible box



March 18, E941. F. g WARNIQK 2,235,093

COLLAPS IBLE BOX F. E.'WARN1CK 2,235,093

COLLAPSIBLE BOX Filed April l2, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ito Patented Mar. 18, 1941 UNITEDv STATES PATENT GFFICE 2 Claims.

The improved collapsible box comprising the present invention is primarily adapted for use as a delivery box for groceries and the like which are put up in small packages or in bulk and is designed to supplant the usual baskets noW commonly in use for this purpose which, when empty, take up considerable room in the delivery wagon or truck. The invention, however, is applicable to other uses and the improved collapsible box may, with or without modification, be utilized as a bottle crate or carton for the shipment or delivery of bottled beer or bottled soft drinks; as a carry-out container for packaged goods in self-serve markets or grocery stores; or simply as a general all-purpose collapsible box.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a collapsible box of this character which, when extended or set up for use, is as rigid as the ordinary non-collapsible box and which, when collapsed, is extremely compact and occupies very little space. A correlative object -is the provision of a box which in its collapsed condition is substantially flat, i. e., it occupies a rectangular space of very little height, thus making it possible to stack a number of the collapsed structures one upon the other Where they will consume very little space compared to the space they occupy when set up or extended for use.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a box structure in which the various parts thereof are hinged together in a novel manner and in which the hinges thereof are coex-tensive with the vertical edges of the extended box and serve to `protect and conceal these edges during use of the box, the hinges in the collapsed structure encompassing the ends thereof and retaining their protective function.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible box structure having a sectional bottom wall, one portion of which is hinged to one side wall of the box and another portion of which is hinged to the opposite side wall, the side and end Walls being hinged together at their meeting edges in such a manner that during collapsing thereof the structure takes on rhombohedral proportions of increasing degree while each section of 'the bottom Wall follows the movement of the respective side wall to which it is hinged.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible box possessing the above-mentioned features in which the hinged bottom sections, above referred to, may be folded fiat against the respective side Walls to which they are pivoted and, when so folded, they are automatically latched in their folded positions. Another and related object isto provide a collapsible box structure having bottom sections which are pivoted to respective side Wall-s in the structure and which, when extended to provide a bottom for the set up structure, serve as expansion members to force the opposed side walls apart as well as to force the end Walls apart, thus rendering the structure extremely rigid.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible box structure Which, when extended or set up for use, is provided with a sectional bottom wall which is maintained slightly elevated from the supporting structure, so that, when the structure is used in Wet Weather or is placed upon a wet surface, the bott-om is. maintained `out of contact with moisture.

The provision of a collapsible box structure which is inexpensive to manufacture; one which may be readily assembled and which, when assembled, is capable of easy manipulation; one which is attractive in its appearance; and one which is rugged and durable and which consequently is unlikely to get out of order, are further desirable features that have been borne in mind in the production and development of the present invention.

Other objects and advantages of the invention, not at this time enumerated, will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood. l

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specication:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a collapsible box structure manufactured in accordance with the principles of the present invention and showing the same extended for use.

Figure 2 is a side elevational View thereof.

Figure 3 is an end elevational viewthereof.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4--4 of Figure l in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 5--5 of Figure 1 in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of 45 one corner of the box structure partially collapsed.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the box structure showing the same further collapsed, and

Figure 8 is a similar view showing the box 50 structure fully collapsed.

In all of the above-described. views, like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts throughout.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the

collapsible box structure involves in its general organization a pair of side walls I0 and I2 and a pair of end walls I4 and I6, the vertical edges of the end walls being hinged to adjacent edges of the side walls, respectively, in a manner and for a purpose that will appear presently. The structure further includes a bottom wall which is composed of complementary sections I8 and 20, which are hinged to the opposite side walls I0 and I2, respectively, adjacent their lower edges in a manner that will also presently appear.

Reference being had to Figures 1 and 7, it will be seen that one pair of diagonally opposed vertical edges of the box structure is covered, protected and reinforced by means of a pair of elongated leaf hinges 22 having leaf sections 24 overlying the adjacent meeting edges of the side and end walls and substantially coextensive therewith and secured to these walls exteriorly thereof. The medial pintle portion 26 of each hinge 22 extends into a recess 28 provided in the Vertical edge of the respective end wall lli or I6 as the case may be, and the leaf sections 24 thereof are capable of assuming either the right angle position shown in Figure 1 wherein the box structure is extended or' the straight angle position shown in Figure 8 wherein the structure is collapsed.

Still referring to Figures 1 and 7, the other pair of diagonally opposed vertical edges of the box structure are covered, protected and reinforced by means of elongated leaf hinges 3U, each having a dat leaf section 32 and an angular leaf section 315. rihe fiat leaf section 32 of each hinge 3i] is secured to one of the end walls I4 or I 6 adjacent a vertical edge thereof exteriorly of the wall and overlies the edge and is substantially coextensively therewith. The angular leaf section 3&3 of each hinge Sli has its outer leg or angular portion secured to one of the side walls I0 and I 2 adjacent a vertical edge 36 thereof exteriorly of the wall, while the inner leg or angular portion thereof overlies the extreme edge 3B in face-toface relationship therewith and serves to maintain the extreme vertical edge 38 of the end wall I4 or It spaced from the side wall Il] or I2 as the case may be. In other words, the outer angle Section of each leaf hinge 30 serves to bridge a gap existing between the extreme edges 38 of the end walls Iii and i6 and the respective adjacent side walls I El and I2 for a purpose that will be made clear hereinafter.

Referring now to Figures 1, 4, 5 and 7, the bottom section 20 is hinged to the side wall I2 adjacent the lower edge of the latter by means of an elongated leaf hinge 40, while the section I 8 is hinged to the side Wall I9 by means of a similar hinge likewise designated at 40. The two sections Z and I8 are designed, in the extended structure, to occupy horizontal positions in the same plane in edge-to-edge relationship as shown in Figure 1 and each of the sections is adapted to be folded in face-to-face relationship with the respective side wall to which it is hinged as shown in Figures 6 and '7 preparatory to complete collapse of the box structure.

It is to be noted that as shown in Figure 6, normal swinging movement of the bottom section I3 from its folded or collapsed vertical position to its extended horizontal position is prevented by the opposed edge 38 of the end wall I4. The same relationship exists between the bottom section 20 and the opposed edge 38 of the end wall I. Thus it will be seen that when the sections I8 and 2li are swung to their vertical position in the rectangular structure, the vertical edges thereof are releasably retained in the above-referred to gaps provided in the end walls and these edges are maintained in close proximity to the inner angle portions of the respective leaf hinges 3i). It will also be seen that in order to move the hinged sections I6 and 20 to their extended horizontal positions of alignment in the box structure, the walls of the structure will have to be sprung slightly in order that the edges of the sections I8 and 20 may clear the edges 38 of the end walls I i and'IB. In this manner these end Walls I and I6 are spread apart to a certain extent by the sections I8 and 20 when the structure is set up or extended and a very rigid structure results. The width of the sections I8 and 2Q is such that when the sections are extended to their horizontal positions, the side walls I0 and I2 are also spread apart to a certain extent, thus further contributing toward rigidity of the box structure as a whole.

Referring now to Figures 3, 4 and 5, a pair of supporting strips 42 are secured to the inner faces of the side walls IIJ and i2 and extend substantially coextensively thereacross longitudinally of the structure. These strips t2 serve as limit stops for the outer swinging edges of the sections I8 and 2|) and determine the horizontal positions of these sections. The strips 42 additionally serve to reinforce the lower edges of the side walls I and I2 which project below the bottom provided by the sections I8 and 2i). Thus a pair of supporting and spacing rails or edges are provided for the box structure, which serves to maintain the medial regions of the sectional bottom I8, 20, spaced from the supporting surface upon which the box structure rests.

Referring now to Figure 8, it will be seen that in the collapsed position of the box structure the side walls I0 and I2 move into alignment with the respective end Walls I4 and I6 while the bottom sections I8 and 20 occupy positions enclosed between adjacent side and end walls I2 and it, and I0 and I 6, respectively. The width of the bottom sections I 8 and 20 is such that when the structure is entirely collapsed, there will be no bulging of the walls and consequently the co1- lapsed structure will take on relatively flat rectangular proportions well adapted for stacking of a series of the box structures in superimposed relationship.

In the present instance and for convenience of manufacture, I have illustrated the side walls Iil and I2 and the end walls I4 and I6 as being comprised of a plurality of sectional members or strips 5i) which are securely held in edge-to-edge relationship by means of their attachment to the various hinge members 22 or 3i). It is to be understood, however, that single integral side or end wall units may be utilized if desired and that otherwise the essential features of the invention will be preserved.

As shown in Figure 3, the upper strip 5i] of each wall is formed with a recess 52 therein providing a hand hole, by means of which the extended structure may be effectively and conveniently carried.

It is thought that from the above description the nature and use as well as the many advantages of the improved collapsible box structure will be clearly understood. The invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification, as various changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention. Only insofar as the invention has particularly been pointed out in the accompanying claims is the same to be limited.

What is claimed is:

1. In acollapsible box structure, a pair of opposed side Walls, a pair of opposed end walls, means hingedly securing the adjacent edges of said side and end walls together to provide a collapsible rhombohedral open-ended structure, said means including a pair of leaf hinges each having iiat leaf sections secured to and occupying positions on the outer surfaces of adjacent side and end Walls and substantially coextensive with the height of the extended box structure, and a second pair of leaf hinges each having a iiat leaf section secured to and occupying a position on the outer surface of one Wall of one pair of Walls adjacent a vertical edge thereof, and a right angle leaf section the outer portion of which is secured to and occupies a position on the outer surface of the adjacent Wall of the other pair adjacent a vertical edge thereof and the inner portion of which extends across said vertical edge in substantial Contact therewith, said inner portion serving to space said former vertical edge from said latter adjacent Wall, and a bottom section hinged to each wall of said other pair adjacent the lower edge thereof, and being arranged in staggered relationship and being of an extent equal to one-half the area of the entire box bottom, said bottom sections each being movable from positions wherein they are in edge-to-edge engagement and completely spanning said latter pair of Walls in the extended structure to positions wherein they are spaced from each other and occupy a common plane in the collapsed structure.

2. In a collapsible box structure, a pair of opposed side Walls, a pair of opposed end Walls, means hingedly securing the adjacent edges of said side and end. Walls together to provide a collapsible rhombohedral open-ended structure, said means including a pair of leaf hinges each having flat leaf sections secured to and occupying positions on the outer surfaces of adjacent side and end Walls and substantially coextensive with the height of the extended box structure, and a Second pair of leaf hinges each having a fiat leaf section secured to and occupying a position on the outer surface of an end Wall adjacent a vertical edge thereof, and a right angle leaf section the outer portion of which is secured to and occupies a position on the outer surface of the adjacent side Wall adjacent a vertical edge thereof and the inner portion of which extends across said vertical edge in close proximity thereto, said inner portion serving to space said former Vertical edge from the latter side Wall, and a bottoni section hinged to each side Wall adjacent the lower edge thereof, and being arranged in staggered relationship and being of an extent equal to one-half the area of the entire box bottom, said bottom sections also being movable from positions wherein they are in edgetoedge engagement in the extended structure to positions wherein' they are spaced from each other and occupy a common plane in the collapsed structure and vice versa.

FRANK E. WARNCK.

CERTFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,255,095. March la, 19in..

FRANK E. wARNcK.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, first column, line 59, for "lO and l2 read --lO or l2; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of April, A. D. 19in.

Henry Van .Arsdale,

A (Seal) Acting Commissioner of' Patents 

